Shipping-box construction



May 2 2, 1928..

R'. w. cHALMERs SHIPPING BX CONSTRUCTION FiledMay 5, 1924 @JMW PatentedMay Z2, 1928.

UNITED" STATESl RAYMOND W. CHALMERS, QF HIGHLAND PARK, MICHIGAN.

snrrrING-Box coNsTRUcTIoN.

Application Bled May 5,

My invention relates 'to boxes designed etspecially for use in shippingautomobiles in substantially their assembled condition, that with thewheels only, andthe top, the steering wheel and the windshleld removed;that is the invention contemplates a comparatively large box, and one.which of necessity must possess great strengthin order that the motorvehicle contained therein may be properly guarded from injury during theshipment thereof. My invention 1s particularly efficacious in r the.shipment of automobiles by sea in which as is well known the boxes orcases within which goods are shipped are commonly subjected toy roughhandling, and have to be inordinate'ly strong in order to withstand thestresses which they are called upon to bear. 1

My invention, however, relates to shipping box or case structure, andnot to such supporting holding and positioning means as are commonlyprovided in order to prevent movement of theautomobile within the box;and as a matter ot' course a box made in accordance with my inventionmay be used for shipping parts of automobiles; such as engines, trames,assembled runnin Agears without bodies, etc., and in yfact or lanyservice wherein a box having enhanced strength and resistance to suchstresses as it may meet, is required.`

The principal object of my invention as will be inferred from thepremises is to provide a shipping box of the class referred to whichwill have strength in excess of the strength heretofore commonlyinherent in such boxes; that end being attained by certain features ofconstruction, arrangement andl co-operation or the 'elements which gotoorm the'box, all as will hereinafterand at length more ully appear'. Afurther object of my invention is to provide such a box which is made upof wall sections each complete in itself, and of proper dimensions andconstruction to form a side, an end or a top or bottom of a finishedbox; so that said parts, sections, or panels may be made up as completedunits and shipped fiat or knocked down from the place wherethey may bemade to the best advantage, to the place where they are to beI used, andthere assembled. Incidently, automobiles are commonly boxed f bypositioning them properly upon the bottom of thelr box or case, and thenbuilding up the internal support- 1924. Serial 110.711,089. y

ing-structure for holding them in place in the box, land placing thesides and ends of sov the box about the device to be'shipped with i aminimum of Waste asA regards the 'labor necessary to eilect the boxingof the same for shipment.v t f With the above and .other objects ofinvention in view my invention consists in the improved shipping boxillustratedv in the accompanying drawing, described in the followingspecication, and particularly claimed; and in such variation'andmodifications thereofwithin the scope of the concluding claims, as willbe obvious tovthose killed in vthe art to which my invention reates. Inthe drawing accompanying and forming a part of this specifica-tion andwherein the preferred embodiment of my'invention is illustrated:

Figure 1 is a view showing my improved shipping box in' perspective, theexternal sheathing or boards surrounding and enclosing the internalframe thereof being broken zway to better show various features oftheox. y v

Figure 2 is a view showing oneof the side sections or panels which go toform the box, as seen from within the box, this View showing a different'form of bracing than that shown in Figure l.

Figure 3 is a view showing oneof the end wall sections likewise as seenfrom within the box. i f

@Figure 4 is a similar, view showing the bottom or top section, thebracing in this view differing somewhat from the bottom andcover bracingin Figure l'. y

Referring now to the drawing, the reference numerals 5 designate tourlongitudinally extending `iframe members all identi-y cal in form withone another; 6 designates. four transverse frame members likewisevidentical each with the other; and 7 a like number of similar uprightmembers or corner posts; said several members being yin fact all alikeexcept as regards their len h.

These frame members are joined toget er at their ends, and extend alongthe several corners of the box, as shown; and they obrends of the saidmembers.

viously extend at right angles to one another at each of the corners inthe completed box.

v Each frame member is cut partly away at its ends whereby outwardlyopening recesses 9 right-angular in form are provided at the The vinnertransverse walls of the recesses provide shoulders at 10, and theextremities of the vframe members which extend along the recesses formtenons 11 which extend beyond the shoulders as shown. he shoulders andtenons are square or substantially so, and ot substantially the sameareas, as shown; the recesses being secured by cutting awaysubstantially` one half of the frame members at their ends, andthroughout the length of the tenon vthus formed, as will be understood.

It follows from the construction above described that in the completedbox the transverse shoulder of each frame member at every'corner thereofabuts against the inner edge ofy another frame member extending at rightangles thereto, that the tenen of the first mentioned frame memberextends past and contacts with7 or overlaps, the tenons ot the second4mentioned as `well also as that of a third frame member extending atAright angles to both said first mentioned and to 4said second member,and that the extremity of the tenon of the first mentioned franie membercontacts with or rests upon the tansversc shoulder lof said third framemember. This occurs, as will be appreciated,` at every corner of thebox, andprovide joints of more than usual strength at the severalcorners; as .tive of the six areas of contact are disposed atright-angles to one another, and the two areas which are parallel arespaced apart from one another; it being appreciated that the severalcontacting areas are held in engagement throughout in the box in itsassembled and completed form.

The frame-work above described is surrounded and enclosed by sheathingmade up of a plurality of boards upon or in each face of the box, theboards being fastened to the frame members and the ends of the boards ateach end of each' tace being also fastened to the outer edges of theoutside boards of adjoining faces or wall sections throughout 'and alongthe several edges of the bex. Thus the boards 12in the lupper and lowerfaces are fastened at their ends to the nearer and furthertransversemem- 'fbers 5 of theV frame, the ends of the boards 13 tothe upper andlower longitudinally `extending frame members at each sideof membersobviously provide a frame struc'- ture wherein the` outer edges ofmembers lie all in a single plane, as regards yeach face of the box,vand the sheathing boards contact with said edges along all edges of thebox; and the particular arrangement of the boards above describedprovides sheathing wherein the boards in every three faces which meet atthe several corners extend inthreedilierent directions at right anglesyto one another. ing the upper corner of the box nearest the observer,the boards l2 run at right-angles to the boards 13 of the side ofthe boxat the right, and at right angles also to the boards 14 of the nearerend of the box; and the same is obviously true as regards every cornerof the structure. i

. Thethreeway framing with butt joints at the transverse shoulders 10land lap joints provided by the tenons l1 in itself provides anextremely strong boxconstruction, and the strength of the box is muchmore increased by the three way arrangement of the sheathing boardsabove referredto and the factthat the sheathing is in direct contactwith the outer edges of the frame'members throughout the entire framestructure; and still greater strength is imparted to the box by causingthe ends of the boards in each fa'ceythereof to extend beyond the outeredges of the frameA members to which said ends are fastened a distanceapproximately equal to the thickness vof the sheathing, as indicated atl5, and nailing the extremities of the boards to the outer edges of theoutside boards of adjoining faces by rows of nails 16. Suitable metallicstraps 17 arealso preferably provided at the sevyeral corners to furtherstrengthen the structure and protectthe corners; the yseparate strapsalways running across the grainof the sheathing boards in one face, andlongitudinally of the grain in` another face, as will be understoodl vvThe description thus far has proceeded as though the box lstructurereferred to was built up piece by piece, or rather as though the framewas first erected and thesheath-` ingl then applied thereto. As a`matter of fact my improved box may be built upv in that way; althoughas stated inthe preamble hereof I prefer to form the box in seetions'each complete in itself, and each of proper shape and size to form a topor bottom, a side or an end wall of the finished box. This permits the`walls or sections which go to form the boxes, if made in a localityremote from the place of use, to be shipped knocked down, and at reducedfreight rates, or if made whereused to be stored in a minimum of space;and permits also the building up of the box around an automobile restingupon the bottom thereof as also hereinbefore referred to. Such side,

Thus, 'and regard-.

ies

mimmo end and top or bottom wall sections are shown Figures 2, 3 and 4,eachbeing .complete in itself and each comprisinga'plurality of boardsthe ends of which are secured to frame members formed as aforesaid, andthe outer edges of which are spaced inward from the extremities of theboards distances 15 corresponding with the thickness of they sheathing.In `completing a box Vfrom such wall sections all that is required,after placing the sections in proper relation to' one another, is todrive the rows of nails 16 through the extremities of the boards of feach section and into the outer edges of the outside boards of adjoiningsections, as will be understood.

My improved shipping box is preferably provided with internal diagonaland belt or girth bracing associated with ythe several wall sections twoforms rbeing illus.- trated in the drawing. That is, in Figure rl, thesides and top and bottom sections are provided with diagonal bracemembers 18 extending from the middle of a central transverse bar 19 tothe end frame members 5; whereas in Figures 2 and 4 double crossbracing. 20 is placed between a like transverse bar and the framemembers at the ends of the sheathing boards. The bracing of the endsections is shown as the same in Figures 1 and 3 and comprises diagonalmembers 21 extending between the frame members 5 to which the ends ofthe sheathing boards of the sections are fastened.

The ends of the diagonal brace members are right-angular in form, asshown at 2 2 in Figures 2 to 4; and they are fastened to the sheathingwith one of each of the several pairs of edges thus provided, asindicated by the reference numeral at 23, in contact with the inneredges of the frame members to which the sheathing boards are fastened.The other edges 24 of the ends of the braces are spaced inward from theends of the frame members, and from the side edges of the sections, adistance corresponding with the thickness of the frame members; so thatin the finished box this second edge will abut against the side of theframe member of an abutting wall section, as shown in Figure 1; fromwhich it follows that the bracing in addition to strengthening the wallsection wvith which it is associated and to which it is fastened in thepreferred method of vforming the box acts also to position the framemembers of adjoining section and cooperate with said frame members tofurther strengthen the box at the corners thereof.

If deemed necessary or desirable sheets of paper or other material 25may be secured in place between the sheathing and the brace membersduring the assembling of said parts to form the wall sections, thisbeing done to frame members corresponding,

make `the box ,more .impervious to moisture,

'which is especially desirable in shipment. by

Having thus described and explained my l ing one across each .end ofsaid assemblage and to which members the ends of said boards arefastened; the lengths of sald frame members corresponding,approximately, with the width of said section, and

the arrangement thereof being such that their outer edges are spacedyinfrom .the extremities of the boards substantially the thickness of theboards; the outer edges of said frame members being recessed at theirends to provide shoulders and tenons substantially square in form, and4of substantially equal areas, the lengths of the tenons being`substantially twice the width and thickness thereof.

2. In a box of the class described, a wall section comprising aplurality of boards of equal length arranged side by side, and two framemembers only, said members extending one across each end of saidassemblage and to which members the ends of said boards are fastened;the lengths of said approximately, with the width of said section, andthe arrangement thereof being such that their outer edges are spaced infrom the extremities of the boards substantially the thickness of theboards; the outer edges of said frame members being recessed at theirends to provide shoulders and tenons substantially square in form, andof substantially equal areas, the lengths of the tenons beingsubstantially twice the width and thickness thereof; and brace membersfastened to said boards and the ends of which are right angular in form,one side of each end abutting against the inner edge of a frame memberadjacent one end thereof, and the other side of said end being. at rightangles to and spaced inward from the extremity of the framemember inquestion, and from the adjacent side edge of the section, substantiallythe thickness of the frame member.

3. In a. box of the class described, frame members one and only one endof which extends along each edge of the box, and the end of each ofwhich members overlaps the ends of two other frame members at theseveral corners of the box; shoulders, one upon each frame member andeach of which shoulders abuts against the inner edge of another framemember at the extremity thereof; and sheathing enclosing said framemembers .and comprising a plurality of boards upon each/face of thebox,-the boards upon every three faces Which meet at 'the severalcorners of the box running in three different directions.

1 4. In a box of the class described, frame members one and only one ofWhich extends along each edge of the box, and the ends of Which membersare recessed to provide a transverse shoulder at each end of each framemember, and a tenen extending beyond said shoulder; eachshoulderabutting against the'inner edge of the tenon of another framemember, the tenon of the first mentioned frame member extending beyondthe shoulder thereof and overlapping the tenon against which theshoulder abnts, and also overlapping the tenon of a. third frame member;and sheathing enclosing said frame -members and comprisingl a plul'ality of boards upon each face of the box, the boa-rds upon everythree faces which meet at the several. corners of the box running inthree different directions and the ends "of the boards of each faceextendingbeyondthe frame membersl at said ends, and being .fastened tothe outer edge of theoutside board of an adjoining face ofthe box.

5. In a box ofthe class described,- frame members one and only one ofwhich extends along` each edge of the box, and the end por'- tion ofeach of which members overlaps similar' end portions of' two other framemembers at the several corners of the box; and. sheathing enclosinglsaid frame members and comprising a plurality of boards upon each faceof the box, the boards upon every. three faces which meet at the severalcorners of the box running in three differont directions and 'the endsof the boards of each face extending beyond the frame members at saidends, and being fastened to the-outer edge of the outside board of anadjoining face of the box.

In testimony whereof I aiix my signature.

RAYMOND W. GHALMERS.

